OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 21, 2014) - Flight attendants across Canada represented by CUPE's Airline Division will make an impassioned plea to Transport Canada to uphold passenger safety on Thursday, May 22, 2014. The federal department will be holding a consultative meeting on that date to discuss a regulatory change that would allow airlines across Canada to reduce the number of flight attendants required on aircrafts.

CUPE Airline Division President Michel Cournoyer and Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Officer Julie Pelletier will be in Ottawa to explain why the new ratio of one flight attendant to every 50 passenger seats jeopardizes passenger safety. Flight attendants from the various components of CUPE's Airline Division will also join by videoconference. Based on their own experience, particularly in emergency situations, they will explain why the current ratio of one flight attendant to 40 passengers is safer and should be maintained.

CUPE Airline Division president Michel Cournoyer will be available in Ottawa on May 22 at 10:30 a.m. to answer questions from journalists.

CUPE represents more than 10,000 flight attendants employed by Air Canada, Air Transat, Calm Air, Canadian North, CanJet, Cathay Pacific, First Air and Sunwing.